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Topic: Darbuka vs Doumbek ! (Read 2345 times)

Darbuka drums appear to be a more modern variation of the doumbek. Still goblet-shaped, a darbuka drum is smaller than a doumbek (9-16 inches tall) and is almost always made from metals like copper or aluminum. However, darbuka drums have a drum head that is easier to access than a doumbek.

Doumbek and darbuka drums are both Middle Eastern hand percussion instruments. They’re both goblet-shaped, and can be used interchangeably in most belly dance or Middle Eastern drumming situations. Neither drum has a definitive role in the music, but, they do have some differences that may matter to the drummer lucky enough to provide the rhythm at the hafla.

Doumbek drums usually stand around 18 inches tall, with a 10-inch drum head. They’re typically found in metal varieties, but, some do prefer the tone that is created by the wooden versions. The shape of the drum shell can vary from an almost djembe-like “goblet” appearance, to a slightly more trimmed down “Y” or “martini glass” shape. Doumbek drums are also pretty ornate in the artistic designs on the shells of the instruments, whether engraved metal, artistic wood staining or hand-painted designs that represent a certain country and/or its culture. The drum head on a doumbek appears to be difficult to access, causing concerns over tuning the drum or repairing or replacing its head. However, a doumbek drum head can tweaked or fixed accordingly, it just takes a bit of patience.

Here's some more cool features regarding the difference you have explained. Darbuka drums, doumbek drums and even djembe drums are all very similar instruments in terms of the construction, shape and materials used to make the drums. Some say that doumbeks and darbukas are just metal variations of the djembe. Others say that doumbek drums and darbuka drums are shiny and sparkly, keeping up with the elegance and beauty of belly dancers. Djembes tend to have a much warmer tone, and as the size varies, a djembe can be much louder than the doumbek or darbuka, as well. Doumbeks and darbuka drums are much sharper in tone and attack, perfect for close-quarters on stage where the focus is mostly on the dancer, and much less on the drum. Regardless, these drums all have a place in any hand drummer’s arsenal, as we never really know which way the rhythm is going to move us.

Some people state which doumbek percussion as well as darbuka percussion tend to be gleaming as well as sparkly, checking up on the actual style as well as elegance associated with stomach dancers. Djembes are apt to have the a lot hotter sculpt, so that as the actual dimension differs, the djembe could be a lot even louder compared to doumbek or even darbuka, too.